PINE MEER FOUNDATION
LOUIS & MELBA
SCHOTT FOUNDATION
The Louis and Melba Foundation was founded in 2003 to support disadvantaged youth in the greater Cincinnati area, by Melba Ann and Charles Townsend. Some background about Louis and Melba, as well as the Townsends, is provided below. It is followed by contact information for this foundation.
Louis Schott was the brother, close friend and business associate of William C. Schott (Will). They had such a good friendship that Will's son and grandson were both named after him. There were frequent occasions when Will and his brother were together both socially and in business. When Will's son Lou was older, he joined the family business and worked closely with his father and his Uncle Lou. To avoid any confusion when they were among each other, Will's brother was typically called Lou and the son was referred to as Louis. An example of these three together is shown in the accompanying 1930 photo with Lou's Cadillac at Pine Meer on the right.
After this photo was taken, sometime in the 1930s, Lou Schott married Melba Herrlinger. Melba had a daughter from a previous marriage, Melba Ann Reily, who Lou adopted. The family had a home in Clifton, not far from where Lou and Will were raised, and across from the University of Cincinnati. However, Lou and Will had many of the same friends on Cincinnati's westside. So, Lou had a second home built near Pine Meer located at the northeast corner of Wynnburne Avenue and Neeb Road. It was across from the Western Hills Country Club, where Will and Lou were both members and often enjoyed socializing with their friends.
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Melba Ann Reily Schott met Charles Townsend while they were both studying at the Cincinnati Art Academy after WWII. They became good friends and ultimately married in 1964. Charles was originally from Indianapolis where he began studying art at a young age, and attended various art schools. He served in the Army Corp of Engineers during WWII, and afterwards attended the Art Academy of Cincinnati under the G.I. Bill of Rights. (For more information about Charles see his bio at Cincy Arts.) The couple settled in Clifton, across from the University of Cincinnati. They both enjoyed painting, collecting art and were active in the Cincinnati Art Club.
​Gradually, the brothers and the Townsends passed away. Lou died first in 1967. The death of Will and Lou's wife, Melba, were in 1981 and 1982, respectfully. Melba Ann died in late 2000 and Charles passed away in 2003. Melba Ann donated an important painting by Joseph Henry Sharp to the Cincinnati Museum of Art in memory of Lou and Melba, and some artwork to the Taft Museum. Additionally, they donated various items to the Behringer - Crawford Museum in Covington, KY, including some Bavarian Brewing Co. artifacts from Lou and an extensive wardrobe and purse collection that belonged to Melba. The Townsends honored Melba Ann's step father and mother by establishing the Louis & Melba Schott Foundation the year that Charles died. The granddaughter of Lou's brother George, Elizabeth Anna (Lisanna) Wiley Laplante, was an advisor to the Louis and Melba Foundation for many years, but sadly passed away in 2023.
The Louis and Melba Schott Foundation and the Pine Meer Foundation are both interested in supporting Cincinnati youth, however, the two entities are operated completely separate from one another. Nevertheless, the Pine Meer Foundation would like to recognize the Townsends and the Louis and Melba Schott Foundation for the grants and donations the foundation has provided and is providing to numerous Cincinnati area charities.
For more information about the Louis and Melba Schott Foundation, and to apply for grants that may be available, please visit https://www.53.com/foundationoffice, or contact:
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Louis and Melba Schott Foundation
c/o The Foundation Office at
Fifth Third Bank
38 Fountain Square Plaza, MD 1090VD
Cincinnati, OH 45202
Attn: Jessica Lewis, Trust Administrator
513.534.5456
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The background image is a photograph at the side entrance to the Pine Meer Manor House taken in about 1930.
In the center is William C. Schott sitting on a 1930 Cadillac. His brother Lou is on the left and his son Louis L. is on the right.
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